CENTRAL LINE have a new white label 12in presumably for release after the holiday, ‘Don’t Tell Me‘ being a tugging 111(intro)-114-113-114bpm clomper sung less smoothly than before while the 129bpm ‘Shake It Up‘ flip is a fast funky burbler in somewhat Isleys style . . . Lava’s Norwegian jazz-funk import can be ordered by UK dealers via Tony Adler of Polydor’s Import Marketing Services on 01-499 3161 . . . WEA’s Fred Dove recently serviced a US promo 12in off the new Kano album, the rest of which I’ve yet to hear, ‘Can’t Hold Back (Your Loving)‘ being an unhurriedly simple 108bpm disco chugger . . . Soho’s Groove Records shop and Groove Production label held a party over the road in Le Beat Route last week, where Chris Palmer told me he’d placed lots of their product with Prelude in the States . . . Surface Noise’s ‘The Scratch’ still cut through better than anything else played while we were down there — now if only Chris could recapture the magic that had! . . . Chris Brown (whose Sharon is looking ever more gorgeous) warns us to watch out for a scintillating remix of Teena Marie’s ‘Portuguese Love’ in the new year, sez “hello” to Neil Benjamin and welcomes back roving Dave Percy . . . ITV’s World Freestyle Dancin’ Championship actually worked out so the best ones won — the US doubles team were great, but that South African bird — cor! . . . Graham Bond of the Tees Valley Road Show is forming a Cleveland area branch of the DJF (GB) and invites any jocks from the North-East interested in joining to ring him on Middlesbrough 325112 (daytime) . . . West Surrey & Hampshire DJ Assn member DJs hold their annual charity disco on Monday (28) at Guildford Cinderella Rockerfella’s to aid the Cheshire Homes for disabled OAPs — last year they raised £500 for disabled children, and hope that this year’s star raffle prize of a portable telly will help them make even more . . . London’s LODJ association holds a New Year Luncheon on Sunday 10th January with silly hats and party games, all London DJs invited, full details from Ralph Maloney on 01 805 8211 . . . Rob Harknett (Roydon 027979 2329) looks like being so busy next year he’s offering any would-be DJs pub-type work with 100 watt rig and roadie, but not too many records, all supplied (might suit hospital jocks, he thinks) . . . Keith Menezes is praying that a special one-off funky Christmas Eve disco above Barnet’s Red Lion in the High Street will be well attended, as if it is, the pub manager will open the room up regularly — which Keith says will give North London / South Herts a funky alternative to getting slowly blitzed in the boring local pub’s public bar (doesn’t that sound heartfelt?!) . . . Southgate Royalty has a Caister Veterans party with Chris Hill, Jeff Young & Nicky Peck on New Year’s Day — but if you’ve any chance of going you probably know about it already, as only Caister “passport” holders are eligible and passports have to be sent off in advance for tickets (details on 01 866 8141) . . . Phil Jay jazz-funks the Surrey area at various venues these days — Tues/Thursdays at Godalming’s Cobbwebbs Two wine bar, Wed/Fridays at Worplesdon’s Royal Hotel near Guildford, and Sundays at Godalming’s Secrets nightclub in Meadrow . . . Tim Lucas and his partner Jerry do a futurist ‘The Art Of Parties’ night on Thursdays at Staines Jacksons, and sent in a Top 100 for 1981 compiled from requests, which they say would be impossible to make any smaller so if we print it could we include the full hundred — at the foot of which is then a little note saying “The above are not in any particular order”! . . . Larry Foster (Stratford Reflections) and Martin Starr (Bristol Scamps) have both revived Johnny Mathis ‘Begin The Beguine‘ (US Columbia 12in) . . . Christmas this year doesn’t seem the same without a new Whispers album — or have I spoken too soon? . . . Cliff Richard now probably won’t do better than number two, but even so my long range forecast wasn’t bad . . . Noel Wright, who jazz-funks Ware Beckets on Wednesdays when he’s not resident on other nights at Juliets in Watford Baileys, picked up his festive name because — you guessed — he was born on Christmas Day . . . John Douglas (Colchester Andromeda) and his chum, Gary Soul (Ipswich Cinderella’s) sent me not one but two quid with which to have a celebratory drink, so to you guys for the pina colada, thanks — and thanks again to all card senders for your kind wishes . . . Wednesday, January 6th is the deadline for your next charts, so you can relax a while (who am I kidding?!) . . . Paul Major (Gt. Yarmouth Tiffany’s) signs out saying: Keep the wax burning. Keep the vinyl turning. Keep your wheels between the ditches. Keep Smokey off your britches — Jitterbug breaker 10-4 . . . and that’s a big KOOL YULE TO Y’ALL!

UK NEWIES

BEGGAR & CO: ‘Bahia De Palma’ (LP ‘Monument’ RCA RCALP 6024).
Extremely British sounding set (not surprisingly I suppose), including their ‘(Somebody) Help Me Out’ and ‘Mule (Chant No.2)’ hits, the initially warm newies being this pleasantly pattering lightweight jazzy solo filled 115-114-113-115bpm instrumental shuffler which couldn’t exactly be called ballsy and the thinly textured immediately recognisable brassy 118bpm skittering ‘Got To Get Away‘ jitterer which is let down by the vocals but has some nice instrumental touches. Vital they ain’t.

OTHER NEWIES include albums from the DETROIT SPINNERS, T. S. MONK, CHIC, a ‘Best Of’ ODYSSEY off which the ‘Easy Come Easy Go/Hold De Mota Down‘ Latin-flavoured new medley goes nicely out of Grover Washington’s ‘Little Black Samba’, and a ‘Disco-Rough‘ compilation on the Celluloid label brought to you by Rusty Egan via his own Metropolis logo. Full reviews after Christmas. Right, now maybe I’ve just got time to grab an hour and a half’s sleep before doing a very heavy (but well paying) mobile gig! Dontcha just love this time of the year?

A couple of jazz albums getting attention are:
RON CARTER (Milestone) for ‘Bom Dia‘, and MICHAL URBANIAK (PAUSA) for ‘Caramba‘ and ‘Call Me Monday’, while the set by SPUNK (Gold Coast) has been bubbling under the Breakers for some time (and believe me that is as low as you can go!), mainly for the chix-cooed slow jazzily meandering ‘La Bimini‘ and Gil Scott-Heron-ish low key c.106bpm ‘Tighten It Up‘ title track.